DENVER – The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Awards event today at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. The event’s presenting sponsor was Colorado Business Bank.
The Business Awards highlight four categories of businesses, as well as the David E. Bailey Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. The categories include Small Business of the Year, Emerging Business of the Year, Minority-owned Business of the Year and Nonprofit Organization of the Year.
This year, more than 100 nominations were received in all categories. The nominations were reviewed by a volunteer committee and accounting sponsor Clifton Gunderson, and three finalists were chosen in each category. All finalists were present and the winners were not aware that they had been chosen until their name was called during the event.
“Small business gives our community opportunity and character,” said Jim Fullerton, president of Colorado Business Bank.
The winners in each category were:
Small Business of the Year: CAP Logistics; a multi-modal transportation company providing expedited freight services and project management for industries that cannot afford downtime.
The company also spends time doing serving those less fortunate, one year sending more than 30,000 books to South African children.
“We believe a small group of people can change the world,” said Jan Mazotti of CAP Logistics.
Emerging Business of the Year: Zebra Graphics LLC, a marketing consulting firm offering expert strategy and award-winning design services.
Zebra Graphics’ owner Megan Moye Zacher credited her success to working together with her clients to develop outstanding marks.
Minority-owned Business of the Year: LEI Companies Inc., a full-service electrical contractor, prime contractor for federal government, solar power and energy conservation and distributor of Intellemeter products.
Brother-sister team Brandon Berumen and Lenee Koch pointed to their parents’ example and guidance as a factor in the success they have found with their company, which includes a $1 million contract to install electric systems at the under-construction Denver Justice Center.
Nonprofit Organization of the Year: The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, which was established to increase awareness, engage in advocacy, and secure and provide resources for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
Jesse Wolff of the Kempe Foundation said his organization rejoices in the thousands of successes they have each year in helping to heal young victims of abuse.
“When you give childhood back, it changes your life and your community,” he said.
David E. Bailey Small Business Advocate Award: Don Richards. The award recognizes his long-term advocacy of small business in the metro Denver area.
Richards, owner of Richards Financial Group and co-owner of Timberline Outdoors Inc., is also a long-time Chamber supporter who, for 24 years, has given his time to orient new members to the DMCC.
“It’s not just who you know, but how you know them, and I have found no better organization to know people through than the Denver Metro Chamber,” he said.
Also this year, the new Green Business Award was announced, which will debut at next year’s awards event. The new award is sponsored by Staples and will recognize local companies that make environmental sustainability a part of their everyday operations.
To nominate a business or organization for the 2009 Business Awards, contact Rob Rose at 303-620-8045 or rob.rose@denverchamber.org.
